by Jack Thorne
CHAPTER XXI.
Bill Sikes.
Bill Sikes was a man who always looked ahead and wisely prepared fordeclining years. Bill was a carpenter by trade, and by thrift andindustry saved money, bought land and built houses upon it, so that hemight leave comfortable homes for his many children. When the calamitycame which incapacitated him for further usefulness he had come intopossession of a whole block in the portion of the city known as "NewTown." His prosperity did not, however, lessen his activity; he forgotthat he was getting old, for his limbs were yet supple and his eyesperfectly clear. He measured off his lumber and drove nails with thestrength and accuracy of a young man; yet, as death lurks in everypassing breeze, feeling well is no evidence of sound health or assuranceof long life. Bill Sikes seldom complained. Steady habits had made himvigorous and confident; but one morning his fond wife stood in the doorand watched him as with head erect and firm step he strode away to hiswork, only to be borne back to her at noon a helpless paralytic. "What'sthe matter, William?" she asked tenderly, as loving hands lay him uponthe lounge before her. But the tongue which had bid her good-bye sofondly that morning could not utter a word, and the eyes that had gazedso sweetly into hers bespoke the bitter anguish of his soul as theystared vacantly at her. "He's done fer," said one of the men, rubbinghis eye with the back of his hand. "The doctors seen him and says heain't fer long." "Speak to me, William," cried Mrs. Sikes, bending lowand pressing her cheeks against her husband's. He raised his arm tocaress her, but it fell again to his side.
But Bill Sikes did not die; he rallied; the lost strength gradually cameback to his palsied limbs sufficiently to enable him to hobble around,and his tongue became light enough to utter words that could beunderstood with difficulty. Full and complete recovery was impossible,however; he was a child, helplessly clinging to his wife, whose burdenwas increased tenfold with the larger children all away and managementof everything--the looking after their little store and other propertyupon her shoulders; she felt that God had tried her as no other soul hadbeen tried. The property of Bill Sikes had for a long time been covetedby his white neighbors, but even extortionate offers had been refused.But the 10th of November offered a favorable opportunity for thecovetous to bulldoze black men who owned valuable real estate intoselling it at any price, and Mrs. Sikes was one of that number whoseexperience had turned their love for the dear old home into hate. Shehad witnessed the killing of a poor wretch right in front of her door,within a stone's throw of his home; had heard the agonizing wails of hiswife and children--a sight which she had never expected to witness inWilmington. The roar of cannon and musketry, the yells of frightenedwomen and children kept her poor, helpless husband in constant terror,hanging on to her skirts like a babe. And now, although weeks had passedsince that fatal day, the native white, emboldened by re-enforcement andthe demoralization of colored men, kept up the reign of terror. Coloredwomen of respectability who had not fled the city were compelled toremain prisoners in their homes to escape ignominious treatment upon thehighways.
It was a few mornings after Thanksgiving Day when Mrs. West left hercottage on Campbell street and ventured over to pay a visit to Mrs.Sikes. "Well, Henrietta, how have you managed to live through it all?"she asked, throwing her arms about the waist of Mrs. Sikes, who saw herapproaching, and had gone out upon the porch to greet her. "And poorWilliam! I've thought of you oh! so many times, Henrietta, knowing ofjust how much you were in need of his protection during these days oftrial." "Yes," answered Mrs. Sikes, leading the visitor in and boltingthe door. "The burden upon his poor wife's shoulders is indeed heavy;but, then, our men are unable to protect us, anyway, so great are theodds against them." "Oh, Wilmington! Wilmington! who would have thoughtthat thou wouldst be the theatre for the tragedy enacted within thyborders!" interrupted Mrs. West. "Some of us, at least, are too wellbred, have too much self-respect and pride to stand and endure thisstate of things that exists now in our home. We could go to church andworship unmolested in the days of slavery; now we have not beenpermitted for weeks to hold public worship. They are determined to placeand keep North Carolina on a level with States further South. Would youbelieve it? one of our white ladies sent her servant down to the banditMayor to be whipped the other day." "Yes," said Mrs. Sikes, "anotherwent down to have a Negro woman driven out of her own house because shelived in a white neighborhood and the children had had a little troubleamong themselves. And the poor black woman, to remain in her house, wascompelled to get down on her knees and beg the white one's pardon.""Well," said Mrs. West, "we held a meeting the other night, and I toldthe few who had the courage to venture out that I was going. Give meliberty or give me death! I would rather be a beggar in a land ofliberty than a Croesus where my wealth will not purchase toleration. Thecolored citizens who own property are the very ones who have been forcedto leave the city." "I have also made up my mind to do the same,"answered Mrs. Sikes. "William is so disgusted that he wants to go evenif he has to sell our property for half its value. Then he thinks thatin New York he can go under treatment in one of the many great hospitalsthere. He has improved so much that he believes final recovery possible.To tell you the truth, I did not believe that I could become sodisgusted with my own home, in which I was born and loved so well." "Itmay all be for the best," said Mrs. West. "Some one hath sinned--thereis an Achan in the camp, and when the sin is punished innocent andguilty suffer alike. In our prosperity we have strayed away from Him whohath redeemed us, and these broken down aristocrats and poor whiteindentured slaves are the Philistines sent to scourge us. And, then, wehave been slaves to the idea that there is no place on earth for us tolive but here in our home. The eagle hath stirred up her nest that heryoung may scatter abroad. Old as I am, I will leave Wilmington, trustingin God and feeling that the world is mine, and if I can't live in peacein one place I can go to another. But the most important thing is, Mollyhas consented to go." "Brave girl!" said Mrs. Sikes. "I heard of herwonderful deeds during the massacre; I didn't believe it was in her. Inher new surroundings, away from old associate, she will keep straight. Ihave made up my mind to go finally to Cleveland, Ohio, my old home.Colored women are not so much annoyed by white men in the North and Westas in the South, and Molly may there be enabled to quit her old habits.We will see each other before we start away, as I shall take a steamer,for we may stay a while in New York," concluded Mrs. West, rising to go."It matters not where on earth we may roam, there are twelve gates tothe City up there. There is no more parting, no more persecution, nomore separation, no tears. So long, till I see you again."
The usurping Mayor of Wilmington had just disposed of the last case upondocket, dismissed the court and had settled back in his chair to enjoythe morning paper, when Bill Sikes entered, and, with his hat in hishand, humbly approached the railing behind which the Mayor sat. Herested his palsied hand upon the rail and saluted. The Mayor arose, cameforward and extended his hand. "Well, Bill, how are you?" "Mornin',Colonel," answered he. "I come down to tell yer I'm goin'." "Going?Where?" "I think I'll try the North, Colonel." The Mayor's face relaxed."Why, Bill, you are all right; no one's troubled you. If all the Negroeswere like you we would have had no trouble." "Yes, I know I'm allright," answered Bill, "but I can't stan' seein' men who was playmatesof mine shot down on the streets like dogs by their ol' 'sociates an'neighbors. You know, Colonel, I'm one who b'lieved in the white peopleof this town, an' was ready at any time to stake ma life on that belief;but what has took place in Wilmington an' what is still goin' on hasconverted me." "Now, Bill," said the Mayor, somewhat moved, "the whitepeople of Wilmington had to resort to this to restore the government tothose to whom it rightfully belonged. White people must rule, Bill." "Iain't got no objection to your rulin', but drivin' out black citizenswho have stood by yer an' been always faithful to yer is er gravemistake. The deal yer made with these po-bocra is goin' ter give yertrouble, Colonel, mark ma words. You ain't got no more use fer po'whites than I have, an' I know it." "But they were the means to the end,Bill," answered
the Mayor, with a smile. "A kingdom divided agin itselfis er goin' ter fall, Colonel." "Don't be a fool and leave your homebecause of unpleasantness; remember you are getting old; the North is noplace for you; you are comfortably fixed here." "Yes, Colonel, I knowthat, but I'm not goin' ter stay in er place where a d--n scoundrel caninsult ma wife an' I can't pertect her, an' you know there's been a timewhen I could. Good-bye, Colonel." "Good-bye, Bill; you'll regret it I'mafraid."
Bill Sikes went back home to prepare for his journey northward.